Michael Jackson, pirate spotted at Seattle thrift stores

When I began my internship with seattlepi.com, I had no idea I’d spend two days dressed as Batman, Elvis, and a banged-up skier while baring my hairy chest to Value Village and Goodwill shoppers.

But I did.

Me as one hurt skier bum (Photo by Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com)

For a story and photo gallery about thrift store Halloween costumes, Mónica Guzmán and I put ourselves at the mercy of two costume specialists last week who had only one mission — to make sure shoppers got a good outfit.

I never knew that people took this job so seriously or that it even existed. But Julie Bertucci and Gary Foy were specialists all right. There was nothing but smiles and high energy.

A pirate costume Gary put together at the Goodwill on Dearborn Street made me feel like Johnny Depp. Roaming the store with Josh Trujillo, a seattlepi.com photographer, I couldn’t help but say “Arrrrrr” to everyone who looked at me.

One lady asked how I was doing with a confused look on her face. “Arrrrrrrrr…ight,” I said.

I also winked at her, but forgot I was wearing an eye patch.

The whole store seemed to slow and gather to stare at me, a pirate strangling the prop skeleton staff dragged back to us from the front of the store. I felt like I was on “Jackass.” I just kept telling myself, “What would Steve-O do?” and that just made me act weirder, which drew more attention.

I felt like a kid again, dressing up like Batman and hiding in a Value Village clothes rack. Even in the low-budget costume, I felt like a vigilante.

But really, we owned the place. We had no limits, and I felt like a V.I.P. I couldn’t help but laugh at the treat thrift store shoppers got that day. Second-hand clothes, sure, but also Batman skulking in the racks, Princess Leia pushing a shopping cart past the electronics and a pirate sprawled out on a recliner.

Would I do it again? As Wayne might say to Garth, Chaa.

And I am considering growing a mustache.

Read Mónica’s story here. And see us wearing the costumes the specialists put together here.